Managing Director

Charismatic and renowned for his good business nouse, Moda Media MD Andrew Riley is living proof that you can build on experience. After nine years in sales and marketing with the UK's largest independent brick manufacturer and with a posh Chartered Institute of Marketing diploma under his belt, he decided to hone his skills with media giant, Trinity Mirror. Aged 28 when he joined the publishing industry his career accelerated quickly and within 12 months he was commercial manager for the magazines team, managing products and portfolios on behalf of Marketing Birmingham, Aga Rayburn, Professional Cricketers Association and in-house titles Select Magazine and City Living.  In 2004, after identifying the need for the much needed synergy between magazines, digital media platforms and related marketing services Andrew started his own business, winning high profile projects on behalf of Birmingham International Airport, Retail Birmingham, British Association of Conference Destinations, Meetings Industry Association and the Scotch Whisky Industry. At Moda Media, Andrew's known for his Can Do attitude, and his positivity is refreshing and one of the key reasons for his success.

• When he's not in the office Andrew's cooking up a storm or perfecting his Salsa shuffles… 

Media Executive (Agencies)

Charismatic and flamboyant, Leah launched her media career 14 years ago with Trinity Mirror, and has never looked back. After assisting on the launch of several new titles within the media group, she was crowned salesperson of the year for two years in a row. Passionate and enthusiastic about everything she does, Leah has notched up an impressive string of bonus awards in her career, including a trip to the 1998 Eurovision song contest, where she watched Israel’s Dana International win the title. Her career highlights include cold-calling Jet service stations for a £15,000 page in Drive On magazine, and the marketing manager saying yes straightaway, without even seeing the media pack. When she’s not dazzling clients at Moda Media, she’s out enjoying herself – holidaying in Spain, spending time with her children, Latino dancing or socializing around town, wearing one of her 54 pairs of shoes.

• Once sat on Cameron Mackintosh’s lap singing something from Les Miserables
• Went on a pub crawl with Anthony Cotton (who plays Shaun in Coronation Street)
• Princess Anne and Leah have something in common – Leah is a qualified horse riding outfitter

Media Executive

Daren notched up an impressive 19 years of media sales experience, including a stint as Assistant Advertising Manager with Trinity Mirror, before joining Moda Media in 2006. He puts it all to good use selling MIA and Eventia, two of Moda Media’s leading business products. When he’s not in the office he’s either chilling out with his guitar or haring down canal cycle paths on his bike. Daren may not have followed a career in policy-making after his degree in Politics, but his diplomatic and friendly telephone manner makes him a firm favourite with his business customers.

• Can’t live without endless cups of tea
• Never says, “Did you see Big Brother last night?”
• Is a die-hard Beatles fan, loves real ale and shouts for West Bromwich Albion
• Is most often heard saying, yes, it’s Daren with one ‘r’

Creative Manager

Salford graduate Shaheen got her first break working for Urban Media on two publications, her passion for design led her to work for Reese Bradley Hepburn working on a farm! She is a self confessed beauty addict and can’t bear to be without her trusty makeup bag. Her ambition for design landed her a job at Moda Media as a designer working on various projects. She once attended high school in Paris although she hated it! Shaheen finally decided to follow her dream for design. When she’s not working Shaheen likes to look out for bargains and day dream about exotic places to visit, she can only but dream! 

• Once sent an embarrassing personal email to all of her contacts by mistake!
• Loves going to the gym and eating out.
• Likes nothing better than watching Ugly Betty and Lost.

Junior Designer

The latest addition to the Moda team, Leo graduated from Birmingham City University with a range of cutting-edge media skills, having majored in design and photography and minored in journalism. Leo is an ambitious and focused designer, who created his own ‘alternative lifestyle’ magazine, entitled Domino, whilst still a student... yet still found time to fit in a VIP holiday to Ibiza where he bumped into Kylie Minogue at Pacha (she asked him where the loos were, Leo furnished the information gladly). A photography, travel and film buff, Leo’s originally from Nottingham although he says at the moment he can’t imagine living anywhere other than his city centre apartment, where he stashes his collection of inexpensive plimsolls, Tom Ford fragrances and designer menswear, straight from the catwalk. That’s when he’s not indulging his love of good Italian food and American sitcoms, or playing catch-up on his favourite TV shows online. Or designing for Moda, of course.

Accounts Exceutive

Dealing with the financial side of a publishing house can’t be easy, but luckily for us, Heather’s not fazed by big jumbles of numbers, dusty ledgers, Excel spreadsheets and expense accounts that make the MD blush. With her solid background in accounting, Heather joined Moda to expand her knowledge base and apply her skills to a dynamic and bustling media company, rather than a firm of accountants, a move that, if she regrets it, she politely keeps to herself. A walking and reading enthusiast, Heather says her greatest career achievements are still to come (it may involve sorting out those expense accounts), and asks us all to ‘watch this space!’ Meantime, she’s determined to buy a Labrador to give her even more reason to go out walking. Heather says she has two things she can’t live without: her mobile phone... and fudge.

Editor of Midlands Home & Interiors

From interviewing David Beckham, Simon Cowell and Catherine Zeta-Jones, to covering the millennium celebrations in Hong Kong, Sarah’s one of those journalists who’s done it all and written the headlines to prove it.  Chalking up an impressive 19 years in media this year, Sarah trained at The West Australian newspaper, before moving on to write for everyone from the Guardian to the Express, taking in news, features, glossy magazines, new media and even good old BBC radio along the way. Specialising in quirky columns, fashion, beauty, and all things style-related, Sarah knows the world of consumer magazines inside out, and is now dipping her toe in the waters of new social media, tweeting reviews, recommendations and rants on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sdj19 , and contributing to the Moda Media feed at www.twitter.com/ModaMedia

Editor of Primary Times

Veteran - though he'd prefer 'nicely matured' - freelance Birmingham journalist and erstwhile broadcaster, Mike plunged into the media world while still at Birmingham University, becoming the local correspondent for Melody Maker.

After graduation as a BA Hons In English, he sported a brightly coloured array of different career hats that variously entailed regional promotions  for RCA Records, researcher and music booker for Chris Tarrant's OTT, Central Television press officer, Beacon Radio Rock Show presenter and correspondent for an assortment of home grown and international music publications.

In addition to -and for the most part simultaneous with - all this, he spent some 20 years as freelance Editor and chief writer for Whats On In Birmingham, as well as lengthy stints as television and film critic for the Birmingham Post.

These days he contributes to several prestigious online music websites and edits Moda Media's Primary Times publications. When not spending hours  ploughing through piles of CD, visiting family friendly attractions or sweating over a hot PC screen, he'll be out on supermarket safari looking for a bargain, battling with his daughters for the TV remote, explaining he really has no interest in football, and proving you can exist on less than 5 hours sleep a night.